By Our Reporter
Shillong: On Gandhi Jayanti Meghalaya also celebrates another significant milestone. The first youth icon who is voted by the public will be publicly awarded at a grand function at the Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture. Voting for the youth icon started a month ago. Voting for the youth icon ended at midnight of Oct 1. Initiated by Avenues an institution that teaches language skills and grooms young people, the Youth Icon award is a befitting tribute to youth on the Year of the Youth.
Avenues has also instituted awards in different categories such as Social Work, Environment Conservation, Arts, Media etc, The awards are an attempt to identify and acknowledge people from numerous walks of life who have contributed actively and sustainably, yet silently towards a better society and have been examples in their own chosen fields.
To identify these silent crusaders Avenues put together a panel of judges consisting of former minister RG Lyngdoh as Chairman and Patricia Mukhim (Editor, The Shillong Times), Dr Glenn Kharkngor (VC, Martin Luther Christian University), David Laitphlang (President, Shillong Press Club), Dr C Massar (Principal, Lady Keane College), Dr AS Guha (Director, IGNOU IIVET) and Toki Blah (President, ICARE) as members.
Finding the deserving candidate was no mean task for the judges. It took several sittings and brain storming sessions for the panel to arrive at a list of fifteen persons from various categories based on their contribution, the sustainability of their efforts and overall impact in their respective fields. The winners for the categories include Deepak Laloo for ‘Entrepreneurship’, Dr. Rica Lamar for ‘Social Work’, late Moinul Haque Barbhuiya for ‘Visual Arts’, Br Eric S D’Souza for ‘Education’, Carmo Noronha for ‘Administration in Education’, Raphael Warjri for ‘Media’, Dominic Stadlin Wankhar for ‘Citizen Journalism’, Deepak N Marak for ‘Conservation’, Dr. Vidanisth Marak for ‘Tradition & Culture’, Denis Ryan for ‘Eco-Tourism’, Wallambok Lyngdoh for ‘Sports, Daniel Ingty for ‘Advocacy’ while three others have been nominated for the ‘Creative & Performing Arts’ category which include Afflatus, Marding Passah and Benedict Skhemlang Hynniewta.
While the above have been selected by the panel of judges, the State Icon is entirely a peoples’ choice. The Youth Icon was voted via SMS. After short listing five potential icons by votes garnered in the first phase, the last phase witnessed aggressive voting for the top five with each overtaking the other in an evenly contested competition. They include Junestar Kharbuli, Lhai Sing Khongshei, Conrad Sangma, Eugene Niangty and Larsing Sawyan.
Avenues Director, Mark Stone Laitflang informed that over 40,000 votes have been polled so far and that voting will close at midnight of October 1. After the final calculation, the winner will be announced at the grand finale on Tuesday. Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma will hand over the award Meghalaya Youth Icon Award instituted in honour of Late RR Thomas, a renowned orator, philosopher and also the first Principal of Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam’s premier educational institution.
The event is expected to generate a lot of excitement as supporters of their respective icons wait with bated breath for the final announcement. Avenues have lined up some entertainment as well with Shillong’s noted Choir, Aroha performing for the occasion.